This post has already been read 233 times!

The Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs) has called for the immediate intervention of the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and democratic institutions over alleged manipulation of the party’s Niger South Senatorial District primary election in Niger State.

At a world press conference held in Abuja, the coalition accused the Niger State Government of allegedly undermining internal democracy and imposing predetermined political outcomes on party members.

Addressing journalists, Deputy National Secretary of the coalition, Comrade Danesi Momoh Prince, described the situation as “a dangerous assault on democracy” capable of threatening political accountability and public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic system.

“The Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations has convened this press conference today to draw the attention of Nigerians, the international democratic community, and all lovers of justice to the dangerous assault on democracy allegedly taking place in Niger State under the administration of Governor Umaru Muhammad Bago,” he said.

Prince stated that the coalition was “deeply alarmed, disappointed, and outraged” over allegations of manipulation, suppression of internal democracy, abuse of state power, and political imposition said to have characterised the APC senatorial primary election.

“What transpired in Niger State cannot be described as democracy. It cannot be described as a transparent political process. It cannot even pass as a credible party primary election by the most basic democratic standards,” he declared.

According to him, reports from party stakeholders, aspirants, delegates, and members allegedly indicated that the exercise was manipulated to favour predetermined interests.

“What Nigerians witnessed, according to reports from aggrieved aspirants, stakeholders, delegates, and party faithful, was nothing short of a carefully supervised political charade allegedly designed to impose predetermined outcomes on party members against their collective will,” he added.

The coalition alleged that lawful delegates and party members were denied participation while accreditation and voting procedures were compromised.

“We are particularly disturbed by allegations that lawful delegates and party members were denied participation, accreditation processes allegedly manipulated, voting procedures compromised, and results written from Government House purportedly announced without transparency, credibility, or broad acceptance among stakeholders and without INEC officials present,” Prince alleged.

The CNCSOs insisted that the controversy surrounding the APC primary was beyond an internal party dispute.

“This is not merely an internal party affair. It is a direct threat to democratic culture, political accountability, and the rule of law in Nigeria,” the coalition stated.

The group further expressed concern over what it described as the growing perception that political loyalty had replaced democratic competition within the party structure in Niger State.

“Today, the painful and embarrassing question reportedly dominating political conversations in Niger State is: ‘Is Your Candidate the Governor’s Friend?’ That statement alone captures the depth of frustration, exclusion, and hopelessness allegedly created by the collapse of internal democracy within the ruling party structure in the state,” Prince said.

The coalition warned that any democracy where candidates allegedly emerge based on personal closeness to those in power rather than transparent processes was “standing dangerously close to authoritarianism.”

The civil society coalition consequently demanded the immediate cancellation of the disputed primary election and called for a fresh exercise to be conducted in line with democratic principles and the Electoral Act.

“We demand the immediate cancellation and nullification of the purported primary election due to the widespread allegations of irregularities, procedural violations, and lack of transparency that reportedly characterized the exercise,” Prince stated.

“Furthermore, we demand the conduct of a fresh, credible, transparent, inclusive, and democratically acceptable primary election conducted strictly in line with the Electoral Act, the Constitution of the APC, and established democratic procedures guiding party primaries in Nigeria,” he added.

The coalition also warned that failure to address the alleged irregularities could provoke sustained civic resistance and political instability.

“We warn that continued suppression of internal democracy within political parties will only produce deeper political divisions, endless litigations, voter apathy, and avoidable instability capable of threatening the future electoral fortunes of political parties involved,” the coalition stated.

CNCSOs called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, civil society organisations, and democratic institutions to defend democratic values and prevent political impunity from taking root in Niger State.

The coalition further disclosed that consultations were ongoing for possible nationwide civic engagements, including a proposed ten-million-man solidarity march, if authorities failed to conduct what it described as a credible and lawful primary election.

“The era where political leaders treat democratic institutions as personal property must come to an end. Democracy belongs to the people,” Prince declared.